Christian hints in anime? Have I been imagining things...?

[Sami_jane]

Trigun is steeped in Christian symbolism and metaphors. Wolfwood's Cross Punisher (if you haven't seen the series entirely, just trust me that it's not a regular old wooden cross he's carrying around) is one such example - it's not only convenient for him to avoid suspicion, since he is a wandering priest, it's also a symbol for the cross he bears daily in his life. That's why the Cross Punisher is so important in that series, all the way to the end. (Those that have seen the end should think on that a bit in relation to how the series ended.)

Vash and Knives are not just weird twins. Their conversations both at the beginning of the series, as children (involving the butterfly and the spider) and at the end as adults, both gives away their identities and gives another look at Christian mythos - particularly in regard to "other than human" beings.

Again, they're not always traditional Western ideas or images (see the much longer post above) but they are certainly present throughout that series.

i have seen the whole series and so ya im with you the whole show has a lot of christianity in it. btw like i said its been a while so vash may have said the verses in the beginning. i really cant remember..just that somewhere there they started off every ep. with a bible verse. lol i have a bad memory.

[Fionn Fael]

Wow. Lady Macbeth, you really know your stuff. I learned something today.

Oh, I forgot to mention that more about Christianity appears in the Trigun manga. At one point, Vash is sitting in a nearly empty church, listening to a preacher speak about how everyone can be forgiven because of what our Savior did. Vash sadly remarks to himself that he can never possibly be redeemed of his sins.

Also, in one of the early episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward tries to convince Rose that God can't possibly exist.

Things like this are really depressing, because they aren't representing Christianity in a positive way. They're contorting the already distorted view that most Americans have on the religion, and the Japanese sure aren't getting a good example of it, either.

[Puritan]

From what I've seen, and from my understanding of Japanese culture, these things aren't surprising. On the whole, the Japanese aren't really concerned with religion or the ideas behing it, but they do like the symbolism and some of the characters or ideas that come with religion. That's why you see so many Christian symbols in anime (nuns in Chrono Crusade and Witch Hunter Robin, crosses in many different shows, Latin prayers or phrases in Noir and others, etc.) with very little Christian thinking or theology attached, the Japanese on the whole find the symbolism and tradition fascinating but could care less about the substance.

A girl who lives a floor below me is from Japan and she converted to Christianity while abroad, but her family isn't Christian. In fact, according to her they really didn't care that she had converted, religion was just one of those things. According to her, this is a pretty typical outlook on religion. She's had a hard time with that as her faith is important to her and she does her best to share it, but that basic feeling in the culture explains much of these "christian" hints: the concern is more with what looks cool or seems cool, so symbols and phrases are used flippantly. This also explains much of the out-of-touch use of archaic christian symbols or seeming misuse of christian symbols: they are more concerned with the look than the accuracy.

[Lady Macbeth]

Exactly, Puritan.

My husband once asked me about this image of Genjyo Sanzo from Saiyuki. Along with the Buddhist prayer beads, he's wearing a jeweled cross on a silver chain around his neck.

Sanzo is a man who clearly allows his life to be dictated by Buddhism and the Patriarchs (the Three Aspects) - and yet, here he is in this image with a cross around his neck.

Well, it looks cool - and he's the type to be cool.

Sometimes, that's all there is to it.

[CDLviking]

I also noticed the fact that Christianity is only represented by Catholicism. What's the deal with that? It's not a surprise that the Japanese view on Christianity is a little off, too. Their culture is less than 1 percent Christian.

That's probably due to the fact that Catholicism is the most widely spread Church in the world. There are over 1 billion Catholics. As was pointed out concerning Hellsing, they aren't blind to the fact that there are protestants and Catholics out there, but if they're thinking "typical Christian," they're probably going to go with the most pervasive one that they've had the most contact with.

Interestingly enough, the most famous Japanese Christian I know of was actually methodist (I think), Toshiro Mifune. There is also a good number of Eastern Orthodox Christians, enough to have their own diocese.

[rocklobster]

Does anyone know if any anime creators have identified themselves as Christians? I suspect Yasuhiro Nightow is one, considering that Christianity creeps up so often in both Gungrave and Trigun.

[GrubbTheFragger]

did any one notice

[spoiler]when wolfwood dies the shadow of him from the window makes it look like he is bowing at the foot of the cross the cross[/spoiler]

just an observation i made while watching trigun

[That Dude]

Toshiro Mifune was a christian?! That's pretty stinkin awesome! He was one of the biggest Japanese films stars back in the day. It seems like almost every samurai flick of that era had him in it.

[CDLviking]

Toshiro Mifune was a christian?! That's pretty stinkin awesome! He was one of the biggest Japanese films stars back in the day. It seems like almost every samurai flick of that era had him in it.

Yep, his parents were missionaries to other Japanese Christians in Manchuria I believe. Being both Christian and a Manchurian born Japanese, he led a pretty difficult life at times. His in-laws wouldn't even agree to let him marry their daughter until Akira Kurisawa intervened on his behalf.

I suspect Yasuhiro Nightow is one, considering that Christianity creeps up so often in both Gungrave and Trigun.

That doesn't necessarilly mean anything though. Christian symbols and such are very popular, but the religious aspect doesn't seem to take as well.

[Android raptor]

Don't know if this means anything, but I seem to recall a scene in Gundam 0080 where Al and his mom are praying...

[That Dude]

That's really interesting that he was a christian. I had no clue...I wonder if any other famous Japanese are?

[Ichigo_89]

Don't know if this means anything, but I seem to recall a scene in Gundam 0080 where Al and his mom are praying...

You are correct. Al prays to God for Bernie's safety and to not let anyone die in the colony or something. It was perfect.

[CDLviking]

Prayer in anime isn't too uncommon, but sometimes who exactly they're praying to is questionable.

[MorwenLaicoriel]

Prayer in anime isn't too uncommon, but sometimes who exactly they're praying to is questionable.

Yes....I recall Nausicaa praying to 'God' several times in the anime, but I think it's spesified somewhere (either in the sub, that I missed, or the manga) that she's really praying to the 'God of the Wind'.

[Ren_sama]

If Aka-chan ever comes here, you should ask her to explain the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children ones. She and I were talking about the movie, and comparing certain images and parts from the Bible/images from the Bible.

Pretty interesting too. ^^

[Ren_sama]

Saint Tail! Chrno Crusade!

xD Those are based around Christianity. ^o^

[Husse]

Prayer in anime isn't too uncommon, but sometimes who exactly they're praying to is questionable.

I was just about to say that. I have YET to watch an anime where someone DOESN'T pray or mention prayer. (Oh wait...I didn't see any prayer yet in Samurai Champloo, but it's probably in there, I'm not gonna browse that particular show...) In the English version sometimes they change it to either "wishing," or praying to God as we know him to be. But in all honesty, chances are rare that they are doing so.

As for Christian influence, I'd have to agree that though it is rare, it is present more often than most people realize. Digimon Frontier is probably a bad example, though. Yes, it's true that Lucemon's name and appearance was taken from naughty Lucifer himself, however, his demeanor is really more that of Hitler's. He's constantly depicted as a tyrant that knows the ridiculous things he's saying are wrong, but has convinced himself otherwise so he may rule without the curse of a conscience, and has since gone mad.

And for that matter, there are also ANGELS in said show, but there are angels in just about every theology. What's different about these angels are the names. Cherubimon, Seraphimon, and Ophanimon...cherubs, seraphs, and...not sure what the last one is, honestly. But in any case, what rises up with these angels to defeat evil is not an absolute force of good, (that is mostly depicted as Ophanimon, the "guiding light,") but a very Eastern theology: the ten spirits of warriors based off of the forces of nature. When you've got the elements putting the smack-down on Lucifer, you've got a mixed bag of theology. And the themes in the show are pretty simplistic and shallow with the exception of a few, making Frontier a pretty shallow depiction of anything scriptural.

I still like it, though. It has its moments. Too bad most of the morals, in the English version, anyway, are secular fluff, and nothing very deep.

[Sami_jane]

in samaria champloo they had an episode that was all about these underground christians and they were all praying. but then i think they were more showing how stupid religion is because of what happened in teh episode and at the end i think it was mugen who said something like religion is for the weak or something along those lines so i wouldnt really count it as what yall are talking bout. just thought i would mentino it cause there was prayer in it. that was one of my least fav. episodes

[Husse]

Ugh. Mockery of Christianity is even more rare, but if it's in Samurai Champloo, I'm gonna go ahead and decide not to watch it any more.

[Rjdreamer]

Really, it's not really surprising to me that there is so much Christian undertones to different anime. After all, the Bible has the best plot and story in the world, and it's all true. Even if it isn't obvious, you can see the morals of Christianity reflected in many different anime. If you bother to look.

[LadyKokoro]

in samaria champloo they had an episode that was all about these underground christians and they were all praying. but then i think they were more showing how stupid religion is because of what happened in teh episode and at the end i think it was mugen who said something like religion is for the weak or something along those lines so i wouldnt really count it as what yall are talking bout. just thought i would mentino it cause there was prayer in it. that was one of my least fav. episodes

I don't agree. I like how it played out. All the characters acted like how they would in the situation. The Christians were well portrayed - at least in the cartoon network dub - it comes up throughout the show. As it turns out
[spoiler]the samurai who smells of sunflowers - Foo's father - is a christian who left to protect his family ("Who ever loves me must leave his family ..." Jesus - not an exact quote, but it is in the story of the rich young ruler)[/spoiler]
It is sad that they only depict the use, abuse, and persecution of christians in SC

[Netbug009]

They talk about God early on in Fruits Basket.

More Digimon: Season 3: When Takato is trying to get Growlmon to de-digivolve that one time, they both pray (It's put like a wish in the english version, bust who bows their head and puts their hands together for a wish?)The problem is, since I don't know whet they originally said, I can't tell if they were praying to our God or not. ^^'

[Mithrandir]

I would wager not, all things considered.

[CDLviking]

References to "Kami-sama" in anime don't necessarily refer to our God.

[Bobtheduck]

In fact, I know people who say that translation of what we'd say as "God" into "Kami" in the early missionary efforts in Japan were probably wrong, as was translating love as "ai" and a few other things...

[Rocketshipper]

more digimon stuff that i thought was interesting.

[spoiler] In Digimon Savers episode 12, Touma reveals that his research suggests that all the digimon that have been appearing in the human realm so far are reacting to "the seven emotions that lead a human heart towards evil" The seven Deadly sins ^^ [/spoiler]

[Netbug009]

Nice catch!